Players at Vanderbilt can become afterthoughts, given the Commodores' long association with losing. But it's hard to overlook Vandy RB Warren Norman. After all, he broke a record held by Herschel Walker.

Last season, Norman set the SEC standard for all-purpose yards gained by a freshman with 1,941, bettering the record set by Georgia's Walker in 1980.

Norman also became the SEC record-holder for most kickoff-return yards in a season with 1,050 and tied the league mark with three scoring kickoff returns last year.

Norman rushed for 783 yards on his way to winning the SEC Freshman of the Year Award in 2009.

It doesn't seem unreasonable to wonder if the Stone Mountain, Ga., product will become the fourth Commodore to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. The most recent Vanderbilt player to rush for 1,000 yards was Jermaine Johnson in 1995.

To reach that mark this season, Norman will have to gain his yards behind an inexperienced offensive line. The only returning starter in the offensive interior is guard Kyle Fischer, and he was a starter for about half of last season.

The Commodores have scored fewer points than they did in the previous year for the past four seasons.

It shouldn't hurt Norman, though, that Eastern Michigan is on Vanderbilt's schedule this season. In 2009, the Eagles had the worst rushing defense in the country, giving up 276.8 yards per game.